Low birth weight

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Low birth weight increases the risk of childhood mortality and is associated with poorer health in later life. At a population level there are inequalities in low birth weight, which can indicate differences in maternal lifestyle factors and, or maternity care. Babies are considered a low birth weight if they are born weighing less than 2500 grams at full term, at least 37 weeks' gestation.  

In Waltham Forest in 2021, 91 full-term babies were born at a with low birth weight, which is equivalent to 2.5% of all live term births Waltham Forest.  Compared to the national average of 2.9% and London's rate of 3.3%, Waltham Forest has a lower proportion of term babies with low birth weight.  

Source: OHID Public Health Outcomes Framework. Data from Office for National Statistics. Date accessed: 13 April 2023.